SYNTHESIS OF 1-ETHYL-2-METHYL-4-NITROIMIDAZOLE-5-NITRILE

ABSTRACT

The subject of this study is the synthesis of 1-ethyl-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole-5-nitrile. N,N-diethyloxalate was reacted with Potassium pentachloride to synthesisze the compound 5-chloro-1-ethyl-2-methylimidazole. The later was nitrated to synthesize 5-chloro-1-ethyl-2-methyl-4- nitroimidazole. Then 5-chloro-1-ethyl-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole was made to undergo coupling reaction with potassium cyanide to synthesize 1-ethyl-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole-5-nitrile. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and melting point determination were employed in verifying the purity of the products.